Holding device for sliding-side cribs.



c. VALLONE.

HOLDING DEVICE FOR SLIDING SIDE CRIBS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. n. 1913.

1,1 7 9,684. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

W) 7 wig iam WM, V 54 4 flzfomeya 1 belifted and which can be CHARLES VALLONE, OF BUFFALO,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB 'IO IBARCALO MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

HOLDING DEVICE FOR SLIDING-SIDE CRIBS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLnsVALLoNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Holding Devices for Sliding-Side Cribs, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relatesto holding devices or clutches for the sides of childrens cribs having vertically sliding sides or side railings, andthe purpose of the invention is to provide desirable and practical means of simple and inexpensive construction which will operate automatically to secure the sliding side in any position to which it may easily and conveniently released to permit the sides to be lowered.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a childs crib provided with a holding device'for the side embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof partly in section in line 2-2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof in line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. i is a transverse sectional elevation thereofin line l4, Fig. 3.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the corner post of one of the end frames of a crib, and B the top horizontal rail of'one of the sliding sides or side railings b of the crib. The side I), as usual, is arranged to slide on stationary vertical guide rods at the ends of the crib which are embraced by guide loops or parts on the ends of the top and bottom rails of the sliding side. C indicates one of the guide rods and 0 a guide hole in the top rail B for the passage of the guide rod. The top rail shown consists of a cylindrical tube, but it could be a solid rod if desired.

D represents a holding device or clutch which is mounted on the end of the top rail B and slidably engages the guide rod C for holding the side I) when raised. One of these clutches is provided at each end of the side, but only one is shown, since the clutches are alike and are similarly arranged, except that they extend in opposite directions or toward each other from the opposite ends of the rail B.

The clutch deviceconsists of a lever arranged lengthwise above the top rail and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed September 11, 1913. Serial No. 789,248.

pivotally connected at its outer end at a point outwardly beyond the guide rod C. The clutch lever is provided between its ends with a hole cZ through which the guide rod passes. This hole is of a size and shape to allow the lever to slip on the guide rod and permit the side to be raised or lowered when the inner end of the lever is pressed downwardly or toward the top rail, and to grip the rod and prevent the lever from sliding thereon when the lever is in an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The lever is provided at its outer end with dependmg ears or parts 0 which straddle the top rail and are connected thereto by a pin bolt or rivet f which extends through the topjrail and through elongated slots f in said ears. A spring 9 arranged between the lever and the top rail normally holds the lever in the inclined position shown in Figs. land 3 in which it grips the guide rod. Preferably this spring has a bent outer end hooked in a slot 9 in whereby the spring is secured to the lever.

When the side is raised the spring g allows the clutch lever to swing toward the top rail B far enough to prevent it from gripping the guide rod and the side can be slid upwardly on the guide rod without the necessity of actuating the clutch lever by hand. When the side is released it will be prevented from descending by the clutch lever which will assume its inclined position under the action of the spring 9 and the tendency of the lever to grip the guide rod, so that the side will be held securely in the raised position. A downward pressure on the side will, however, cause the lever to tightly grip the guide rod and prevent the downward movement of the side unless the clutch levers D are released by pressing their inner ends downwardly toward the top rail. This can be done by a pressure of the thumbs on the inner ends of the levers while the hands grasp the top rail.

The described arrangement of the clutch levers places them in a convenient position for actuation by the thumbs when the hands are in the position in which they will naturally be placed in grasping the top rail to raise or lower the side. By connecting the lever to the top rail by the slotted ears straddling the rail, as described, the outer the end of the lever,

end of the spring 9 constitutes in effect the fulcrum for the lever and the lever is adapted to assume the same ally having a hole through wardly from the top rail B. An efiicient gripping action of the lever is thus insured the more expensive pivot fixture for the lever to be provided. As the without requiring clutch levers tightly grlp the guide rods they prevent any play of the top rail on the guide rods and therefore prevent therat tling of the side with tionable noise.

the consequent objec- I claim as my invention: I

1. In a crib, the combination with a side arranged to slide on a guide rod adjacent to each of its ends, said side having-end portions projecting outwardly beyond said guide rods, of a clutch lever pivotally mounted on said side at a point outwardly beyond said guide rod and extending lengthwise along the edge ofsaid side to a point inwardly beyond said guide rod, said lever having a part slidably and frictionengaging said guide rod, and a spring which-acts, on said lever and causes it to grip said guide rod ment of said side in one direction.

2. In a crib, the combination witha side guide rods adjacent to arranged to slide on its ends, of a clutch lever arranged lengthwise above the top of said side and having ears which straddle the top of said side and have a slip connection therewith, said lever which said guide rod passes and a spring located beneath said ever between said ears which normally holds: said lever atan inclinationto the top of'said side.

positions as if r its ends, of alclutchhlever arranged length- 4( side by which said lever is movably retained and prevent the move- 3. In a crib, the combination with a side arranged to slide-on guiderods adjacentvto wise of said side andh'aving an ear projecting theretrombeside said side, a pin and slot connection between said ear and said in place on said side, said lever having a hole through-which. said guide rod passes, and a spring by which said lever is ful crumed and. which bears on said side and holds said lever" in'frictional engagement with said guide-rod.

4. In a crib, thecombination with a side having a horizontal rail, and vertical guide rods adjacentthe ends of the side on which the side is adapted to slide,'. of friction clutch levers at the ends of said side and '5 cooperatingwith said guide rods for holding the side in different positions of adjust-- 'oiIARLEs vAL oNE, f Witnesses:

A. W. K RToN', a T. H. TURNER.

0opiea-' 01 this patent jmfaybe obtained'for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot l'a te nts, i i i i i Washington, D. G. i 

